Frost & Wind = No Go (+0 Miles)
October 30, 2010: Migration Day 21


Photo Operation Migration

This is what frost looks like. Luckily, last night all the planes were in a hangar and escaped the frost, but there will be no flying today. SSW winds on the ground and worse conditions aloft keep them stuck for the 11th day in Winnebago County, IL. This is a new record for down days!

But this exciting news comes from Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation, a partner in the reintroduction of the Whooping crane Eastern Flock: The 11 DAR (Direct Autumn Release) Whooping Crane chicks were released October 25 on the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Cranes for the DAR project are reared at Necedah NWR by biologists from ICF and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The juvenile birds are released in the company of older cranes after fledging, or developing their flight feathers. The young cranes learn the migration route from these older birds. Biologists from ICF and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are tracking the released DAR cranes using radio telemetry, picking up radio signals emitted from leg transmitters on the birds. The young DAR cranes are currently still on the refuge, but as they begin the migration south trackers will be monitoring the birds’ movements. Stay tuned for further migration updates.

In the Classroom:

Today is Saturday, your day off!

Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure presented in cooperation with the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).